Loose-leaf binder.



H. C. MLLER.

LOGSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION YXLBD N0\7.1S, 1911.

Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

2 SHEETS-w, JEET l.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

' PPLOTXOF FILED N0v.13, 1911.

. Patented Mar. 25, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

conunllA mNonlArn comlmnafm4. u. c.

OFFICE.

To @Zlio/tom it mai/ Bez-.it vlm'Qvm fame-I; of? ii'fil\iiaukee,'j isconsint LooseI/eaf Binclei,4 off which L' the. following is a.-"spe`oitication. is. ,..1 Ihisinventon.relatest v loos ea inders .offthat class whichrare usedf .rrio re .particularlyf. for ;';pre serving :documentary records;i whichf are recorded inf publie, oices, such.v as rea-l estate,l conveyances-,1 assignments, corporation articles, ete-.Such looseleaf booksare providedwitha fixed v number of leaves' and a. noneXte-nsiblefcover andbinding-posts, saidbinding-pos'ts being detachably connectedwith t-heback at each side, and the mode'fofuse being torernove successivelythe to i leaves, copy the records thereu on and repi) ce them serially in order in the ack of the book. The looseleafsystem offers t-he known, of permittingthe use of ordinary typewriting-machines to copy :the records', but as .heretofore` carried out',` it resents the disadvantage as compared wit1 book's having sewed bindings, that the` lea-ves will not open flat, and'this not'onlv makesf the handlingofthe book-more vv diilicultjin e xamining, records, bu t a larget amount-of space. -in fthe crotch ,or insidec'-dgesI ofl `:the

leaves is lost, this space beingnioreover va'- viable because. itl-.ls yc leeper toward tlife` cen' tcrthan toward theoutsidel `Aistill further 1and important disadvantage of the loose-leaf system as.heretofore 'carried out is the inflexibilitv of the binding, .which makes vi t. in ipossib1e to .use aspring-back to advantage` .and furthermore makes the out of.-the .edges at` frontand back 'either strai ht or convex .towardtheopeningfsidg whic 1 gives 4an uncoutli andunpleasingap.- pcaranceito .the liookwh'en closed. l

to improve the4 looseleaf system asfapplied lo such books, first bvj'providing a sp ecial form of flexible bindingrpost, Vwhich vg-lwill enable the leaves to, assume a. concave cut;

' the book., is close'dfand a -convexlyfjcurved -have: i nvented a great iadvantage, as-.lfwell- Y locking-device fort-he fastenings v:rods..whichA revents removalof rccor from' .the';bin er.

-llly in'v ention comprises in addition to th'efeatures above-named the special construct-ions and combinations which are hereinafter. more .fully described and'set forth in my claims.

' Forl the better understanding of the invent-ion, I have illustrated the preferred form t-hereoftogether with several alternative forms of the details of construction in the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of v loose-leafbook constructed. accordin to my invention` in-the closedpositiontFig. 2

is a similar viewvthereof with the top-cover opened; Fig. 31s a similar view thereof open 4inthe center, a portion on the left being broken away to bring -it within the limits of the sheet;.F ig.`4 is anI end-view on a larger s'c'ale'and in closed position ofone of .the 'fle:i b le-posts together with the hingeportions-of the binder which] coperate. vth eie\vith, the latter 4sectioned on-plane 4; Fig. 5 'is asimilar view of the same parts showndn the position assumed by them in opening the bookzFig. isa faceview of one of the hinge-plates, one of theposts', and

the l opposite pintle-rod, to illustrate the l0ck|ng-means; Figs. T and 8 are'respccvtivelya lside and lan view of one form of my"fiexible post; "igsg 9'and 1() are respectively similar'views of another form of post; Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively similar views of Ianother form of post.; Figs. 13 and '14 are respectively similar views of another 'fornrof ost; Figs. 15 and 1G are respec tively'sidre and plan-views of a. post-tiller 'taken separately; and Fig. 17 is a perspectiveof another form of post. The obieetpf ny.1nvention is therefore The reference letters refer each to the saine part in each ligure of the drawings.

The book as shown in Figs. 1. l and 3 comprises covers a, `a spring-back l; hingedly connected to the covers b v the usualflexible cloth or leather-hinge (omit-ted from the drawing); a plurality of flexible posts fconstructed as hereinafter described and p'erforatedgat their ends; a pair of hinge- 4plates d embeddedin the. cover-material; a arof pintle-rods e which connect thc ingelates with the posts; a pair of locks for ocking said rods, these locks being embedded'finfthecover materialoand therefillustrated ,separately.. mf 1 lgs. ,i to"13 inclu-A sivefare so' made as to havej'a sensiblethiek': ness sufficient. to give'themziifcertain"amount of stiffnessjfand preven't'the edges' .from cut: tin the"1ea\' e's,'-and .yetf have `some,fi'exibilt.y.. ena ling themto yield t :i""lat'e'1"x`iijbendihgifv force -throughlimited.angles, as shown lin the* 'dra'wings {lian'd p're fer'ably. also,A they have-irl resiliency Mwhich?brings th'eni when released` b ack to the straight position. lTo accomplish these aim's'fI 'have 'de'vsedhmd illustratedseveral special forms of this post. In Filis. 7 and v8 the post consists'of'afsmgle strip ",otvery'thn springsteel,"which is bent at h hthrough two right-angles, so that the ends overlap upon the middle of the post,l and said ends are cut. into tongues l1,2 and Iz. which interlock; to A\ ''it,zox`1eend has a sng'lemedian tongueh, and the' 'other-.elias two marginal' tongues ha -leaving between them a space havin the ,width of the tongue h2; and the end o the' tongue h is thrust under the shoulder hl ,wh'ic l r lies between the tongues h, and the ends ofthe ton les h are ilirustunder the'shoulders lx. w iicli lie at thesides of 'thejtongueW-y so that there is'v no end projecting, which'wvould be in danger -of catching jtiliefperforations.in the leaves, through'"which'thel ost is,` thrust. Ittfvill be seen thatgthebends' form loops or eyes, throu h which the pintle-rods Ac pass, and the stiffness of the metal holds the post normally straight, whileat the same time its' resiliency is allowed to'act, bec'ausc the end-'portions h. andh slide'freely 'in and out when the post bends in one direction or`the other. l

' In orderA to maintain the post"of uniform thickness, 'and prevent it from collapsing' or buckling in'the center, itis preferable to in'- sert between thc"`two sidesfa'fllleit This fillerv is made of any preferredflcxible mate'- rinl, and may assume var ionsfo'rrns; I have found a simple piece of leather 'of the proper thickness to be preferable.'"`To increase the r'esilien'c of the material, it may'V be'vprolvided with cuts i' on"`alterriatel'y opposite sides extending part-way across, iutthisis n'ot4 essentiah Such a filler'isiliustrated se'ar'ately in Figs.` 15 and'16 inclusive. T is A filler is also ,applicablet'o the "other forms shown, such'as Figs. 11 and'17,nbut for greater simplicity and clea'rness, is omitted from these-figures.. n .g

In Figs. 9 andv y10 i'sjsho'wna post similarly constructed 'fand "comprising 'a' pmetal strip'j bent into loop'sj'atthe ends of the bestand' havin the vends of the'strip over'- ap; but instea ofv the overlapping tongues h2, h of Figs. 7 and 8, one'end y" simply ov'llie's the other, and is provided with a vgirth-stra jt' assing around vthe other, vt'rherebytie .en Aj2 is'held imposition and prevented from projecting. In this form of I post alsoMI haveshown a different form of filler, consisting of metal blocks which are 7 -spacedapartand are secured separately by rivets to the lower side of the strip as v,Inl Figs. 1lv and 191 have shown a still 'different form of post comprising a single resilient strip of flat spring-steel I, a pair of end blocks 1n, perforated with apertures m' foi" the pintles,and.a pair of'verlapping stripsh.;and l0, said'overlappin strips beinfy vsecured to'the blocks m on tie opposite sides thereof from the strip l by means of the 'common rivets p. The strips n and o ma interlock either as shown in Figs. 7 ant V8 or as in Figs. 9 `and 10, the former stylev'of'joit being illustrated in the drawing.v This post is showri without any filler. In all these posts, as shown, the thickness ot' the metal is somewhat exaggerated for clearness sake.

y Fig. 17 shows an improved form of the post illustrated in Fig. 7. The improvenient' consists in adding' thereto a pair of blocks h spaced sufiieientlv apart from theendsto permit of the pintle-rod passing in the o' n space between" and a pair of rivets h.' w ich arepassed tirongh holes in the strip h land the blocks h and secure them firmlytogether. This prevents flattening of theends caused by the pressure there-upon of the spring-back l).

4Each' ort the posts above-described has resiliency as well as flexibility. That shown .in'Figs. 13 and 14 is made from a single strip of leather g of the width and thickness of tie post provided with looped metal-ends 4r'unite'd thereto by rivets 1". The leather q. has flexibility; but little if an resiliency. and this form ina conceivably e used with other materials w iieh have both, but I have notfound any which are very satisfactory in ractce.

onsidering now the mode of attachment of my improved post whereby it is 'caused to assume a curve position in one direction or the lother according to the position of tht` book,'the'hi1gfeplates d are provided with tubular sockets s, which are adapted to relceiveiinc'l hold frictionally the piatte-rods c. and'said sockets'are cut away opposite the. place in which the end of the post fits, as plainly shown at s in Fig. 6.' Now the metal oneach side of the cut-away portion of the. socket is so arranged as to abut against the post at a point on one side of the socket in the closed and open positionsof 'the vcover as shown in Figs. 4 and 5; the inner abutment s1 abutting" against the front face of the post in` such manner :is to limit itsitotation O'rlth pi'ntl'eerod to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, whereby.

Nowitfwill-be clearly seen that. .when the book fisz'closed,"fnotf only. :do the covers exert the aforesaid?,bending-action upon thepost and thus'positively-forceit toward the rear, but also the back-spring'b by compressing the coversl'hasthesameeffect, and thus the book-leaves are forced-:toassume the curved eut. at the front and back edges, which' is appro riatethereto.'-.Now when-the book is openec, as in.Fig.y 3," the lever-action of the leaves tends to'force the curve'of the post in the opposite direction as shown, butI in order to positively'carrynthdcnrve'of the post :icrosswthe'line o pressure of 'the-springback, 'I- provide the outer abutments which acts in opening one cover, as shown, to produce the double flexure indicated, and thus carry thecurvatare of the post tothe outer side of said line of pressure. Thus :itfwill be seen that while onA the one'liand the posts are in an up-and-down direction, absolutely rigid, and 1n the other'direction possessed of suflicient stiffness to avoidanyrlooseness or shakiness on the part of theleaves, yet atthe sametime the leaves are held-firmly in theinproperf positions, and are positively moved ,intorjout as-thebook is'l closed or opened,ftogive the proper concavit-yor convexity apropriate to therespective ositions.

The bottom ofthe socket, s is en arged as showny at s so as to leave a free annular space s surrounding the end of the pintlerod e forthe insertion of'al tubular key (not here shown) .which is provided with a bayonet slot or lotherdevice adapted toenga c a lateral'projection t on'tlie rodandpul it out. I providesmeans however for preventing -.;unauthorized persons from removing the pintle-rods, said means comprising a flaty lock f mounted-on'-.the inside of each cover and provided with'a tuinblcrdmrrel 'u adapted torbe'unlocked and rotated by a key to withdraw a,1/reciprocating-bolt w, which has 1v beveled nose 'wadapted to engage theshoulderofvan annular groove ai on the rod. The boltw is pressed resiliently into saidengagementby means of a spring y.' It will be readily seenthat-this allows the rod to be thrust in and lockedwithout the keybut'when so in place the rod cannot be.withdrawn withoutl tirst'retracting the bolt w by means of the ke7 as aforesaid.

I wishitunderstood that my invention is not limited-to the use of all the `above described features and constructions. for some n'iay be omitted and others may be varied or modified in various ways, as will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

Having 4`thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis: Y

'1.In combination with the covers and baclcliingedly. connected, a post; having at its ends means for pivotally uniting with the covers at the hinged points thereof, said post being nonextensible and flexible in one plane only, means operated by the opening and closingr of said covers for positively forcing sald post into an inwardly bowed position when the covers are closed and into an outwardly bowedposition when they are opened.

Q. lin combination with the covers and back hingedly connected, a post having at its ends means for pivotally uniting it with the covers at the hinged points thereof, said post.'A being nonextensible and flexible in one plane only, and elements on said covers adjacent to the pivotal point of said post on opposite sides thereof, the innermost elements being adapted to abut against one side of'the post and force it into an inward curvature when the covers are closed, and the outer element being adapted to abut againstthe opposite side of said post and force it into a reverse curvature when one of the covers is wide open.

3. In combination with a spring-back and swinging covers hingedly connected therewith and adapted to turn about their hinged axes with relation thereto, a non-extensible post inflexible in one plane and freelyfiexible in the plane at right angles thereto and having a length somewhat greater than the distance between its points of connection to the covers; said 'post being pivotally connected at its ends to said hinged covers and freely movable on Iits pivots; said covers having abutting edges on the opposite sides of the post which are adjacent to the pivotsA thereof and limit the angular movement ot the post to a predetermined angle with rclation to said covers.

4Q Ineombination with a spring-back and covers hingedly connected thereto, a post havingr at its ends means pivotally uniting it with said hinged covers at a point near the hinged axis t iereof; said post being nonextensilile and flexible in one plane only and having a resiliency adapted to restore it to straightness when released.

In a loose-leaf book, the combination of a. pair of hinge-plates having tubular sockets, pintle-rods seated in said sockets, one or more flexible posts having perforated ends through which said rods respectively pass, said ends being seated in recesses or cutaway portions of the sockets, and said cutaway portions having on either side thereof abuttin -edges, of which the inner ones are. adapte to abut against the front side of the bwith'lthe!hinge-plates-haviiig; tubular' sockets',postshavingperforate'dVends,.and pintle-ro'ds 4s eated in andinclosed by said sockets and passingthrouglnsaid, erfoi'ated ends; said pintle-rods. having eaci a shouldered? niinular grooveeof n pairfof 4locks inounted'on the inner sides ofthe respective coversandiflnsh` therewith, saiddocks having each a bolt adapted toengage in the shoulder.- of @the corresponding'pintle-rod and thereby prevent itsiwithdrawal except by the-operation of Asaid lock.

7. In a loose-leafboolr, the combination with tlie'hinge-plates havingtubular sockets, posts having perforated ends, and pintlc-rods seated in and inclosed by said sockets and passing through saidl erforated ends, said pintle-rods having eaei a shouldred annular groove, of a-pairof locks mounted on the inner sides of the respective covers-and flush therewithasaid .locks having each a boltadapted to iengage "in the shoulder o f the corresponding pintle-rod and thereby ieventl itswithdrawal except by the o eration of said lock, each lock having furtlier aspringmaintaining said bolt in anadvaneed posit-ion, and a circular tumbler-barrel adapted by rotation to-retract said bolt.

8. As a new article ofmanufacture, a binder-post` having.A eyes.- at its respective ends, afiat thin metal strap extending bctweensaid eyes on -one side, a. pair of overlapping andrelatively slidable thin metal straps extending between the eyes on the other side, and one or more filling-pieces filling the space between saidsides. i

t). As a new article otmanufacture,` a binder-post havingveycs at its respective ends, a fiat thin metal-strap extendingebetween saideyes on one side, a pairof o'verlapping'v and relatively slidable lthin metal straps Aextending between the-eyes on the other side, and a piece of flexible material filling the space between said sides.

10. As a new article of manufacture, a binder-post having eyes atits respective ends, a fiat thin metal'strap extending between said eyes on one side, and a pair of overlapping` and relatively slidable thin metal straps extending betweenthe eyes onv the other. side, .the ends of said last-named .straps being slidably confined by each other whereby they aie.prevented from projectin 1- lzl. As'a new article of manufacture, a binder-post having eyes at its' respective ends, a flat thin metal strap extending bet'ween Said'eyes on one-"side, andl a pair of overlapping and :relatively'lslidable thin metal straps extending between the eyes on the other side, the ends of said last-named straps 'havingj interlocking tongues, the tongue or tongues .-'ononemember passing between the tongue or'tongues :oir the other member and-the -tongues'eoneach member underlying the body ofjt-he strap on the other member.

12. As a new article of nuiiuifacture, a freely flexible noiiexteiisiblc binder-post. for binders of the class-described, said post coinprising'a single thinshcet-metal s trap bent into eyes at two points corresponding to the ends of the )0st, the ends of said strap overlapping eaeli other on the opposite side of the post from the middle portion of said strap, and each end having a connection with -the .strap which contines it closely thereto.

13. As4 a new article of manufact-ure, a freely fiexible nonextensible binder-post for binders of the class described, said post coinprising a single thin slicet-inetal strap bent into eyes at the two points corresponding to the ends-of the post, the ends of said strap oi-'erlapping each other on the opposite side of the post from the middle portion of said stra p, eaelrend of said strap being provided with one or more tongues, .the tongues on one end alternating with those on the other and-the toneueor tongues on each endbeiner disposed belbw and confined by the body of the metal on the other-endet thestrap.

l 14. As a new article of manufacture. a freely flexible nonextensible binder-post for binders of theclass described, said post coinprising-a single thinrshect-inetul strap bent into semi-circular eyes at thetwo points corresponding to the ends of the post,the ends ofv said strap overlapping each other on the opposite site ofthe post from the middle )ort-ion of said stra i, each end of said strap cingi provided willi one or more tongues. the tongues on one end alternating with those on the other and the tongue or tongues on'each end being disposed .below and confined by the body of the metal on the other end of the strap, and one or inore spacingpieces disposed in the open space between the two sides of the post.

15. As a new article of manufacture.l :i freely flexible nonextensible binder-post. for bindersof` the class deseribed,said post coniprisingasingle thinshcet-inetal strap bent into semi-circular eyes at the two points` corresponding'to the ends of the post, the ends of said strap overlapping each other on the opposite side of the post from the middle portion of said strap, each end of said strap being provided with one or more tongues, the tongues on one end alternating with those on the other, -and the tongue or tongues on each end being disposed below and confined by the body of the metal on the other end of the strap, and a flexible spacing-piece disposed along the median ort-ion of the post between the two ends and) the two sides thereof.

1G. As a new article of. manufacture, a freely flexible nonextensible binder-post for binders of the elass'deseribed, said post comprising a single thin sheet-metal strap bent'nto eyes at two points corresponding to the ends of the post, the ends of said strap overlapping each other on the opposite side of the post from the middle portion of said strap, a pair of blocks inserted between the sides of said )ost a short distance from the respective ends, and a pair of rivets passing through both sides of the post and the respective blocks and binding t-hem together.

17. As a new article of manufacture, a freely flexible nonextensible binder-post for binders of the class described, said post comprising a single thin sheet-metal strap bent into eyes at two points corresponding to the ends of the post, the ends of said strap overlapping each other on the opposite side of the post from the middle portion of said strap, a pair of blocks inserted between the sides of said ost a short distance from the' respective ent s, and a pair of rivets passing through both sides of the post and the respective blocks and binding them together, and one or more spacing-pieces disposed in the open space between the two sides of the post..

18. As a new article of manufacture`v a freely flexible nonextensible binder-post for binders of the class described, said post comprising a single thin sheet-metal strap bent mto eyes at two points corresponding to the ends of the post, the ends of said strap overlapping eaeh other on the opposite side of the post from the middle portion of said strap, a block inserted between the sides of said post a short distance from one of its ends, and a fastening-device securing both sides of said post and the block to ether.

19. As a new article of manu aeture, a freely flexible non-extensible binder-post for binders of the class described, said post comprising a looped metal strap, the looped ends forming eyes adapted to turn upon pintles Carried by the binder, means extending across the post from one side to the other on each end and shutting ofi1 the eye-opening from the middle portion of the post whereby the pntle is prevented from running down toward the center of the post.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY C. MILLER.

Witnesses:

Jus'rus CAI-IN, FERDINAND KNUPE, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ilve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patentsl Washington, D. C. 

